Straightedge assembly



P 1941- E. c. GLEDHILL 2,257,049

STRAIGHTEDGE AS 5 EMBLY Filed Sept. 16, 1939 'nnm'iFms j-al I I N 1 1 3 50mm a. gunman Patented Sept. 23, 1941 UNITED STATES PAT NT OFFICE STRAIGHTEDGE ASSEMBLY Edward 0. Gledhill, Galion, Ohio Application September 16, 1939, Serial No. 295,275

1 Claim.

This invention relates to an improved straight edge assembly more particularly adapted for use with road machines.

One of the principal objects of the invention is to provide a straight edge assembly which will adapt a road shaper for berm and light maintenance grading, all of the advantages of straight edge use being retained.

Another object of the invention is to provide a straight edge assembly which will be used with road shapers of the open runner type and which will have a section projecting through the space between the runners so that material collected by the straight edge will be deposited in a Windrow.

A still further object of the. invention. is to provide an improved straight edge assembly having an upper or extension blade section connected with the lower blade section employed, said extension blade section having triangular enlarged portions or extensions at each end so that a relatively high blade assembly will be provided, with the result that more effective grading will be assured.

Other and incidental objects of the invention not hereinbefore pointed out will appear during the course of the following description.

The invention is illustrated in the drawing, wherein the figure is a perspective view showing my improved straight edge assembly, a portion of an open runner road shaper being shown in proper relation to the straight edge assembly.

Referring now to the drawing, the numeral I indicates in general a runner frame of a road shaper. The runner frame is of the open runner type shown, described and claimed in my pending application, Serial No. 194,216. The runner frame is adapted for use with a road shaper of the type shown and described in my patent, No. 2,090,117, issued August 17, 1937. The runner frame I includes runner sections 2 and 3 which are spaced from each other and are in longitudinal alinement. Said runner frame also includes top members 4 and 5 and vertical members 6 and 1. Connecting plates 8 and 9, with the top members 4 and 5, connect one end of the runner frame carrying the runner section 3, with the opposite end of said frame, which carries the runner section 2. Said opposite end of the runner section is provided with adjusting rods H] and II which are vertically disposed and are in parallel spaced relation, said rods being connected at their corresponding upper ends by a member I2 which is an extension of the member 5 and the plate 9. Rotatably mounted in the member I2 is an adjusting screw l3 which has a threaded portion screwed through an adjusting member 14 which is carried on the rods I0 and II. It should be noted that the rod II, the vertical member 6, and the plate 9 define a substantially rectangular opening through which my improved straight edge assembly, now to be described in more detail, will extend. It should also be noted that a runner frame I is to be carried at each side of the road shaper and that the frames may be identical. In other words, either of the runner frames may have an opening through which the straight edge assembly may extend, if desired. Each frame also has the adjusting screw i3 and adjusting member l' i.

The straight edge assemblyforming the subject-matter of my invention'includes a rectangular lower blade section 15 which is adaptedto extend obliquely between the runner frames i at each side of the road shaper. The lower blade section has its opposite end portion connected with the adjusting member i4 so that rotation of the screws l3 will effect raising and lowering of the entire straight edge assembly. Carried at the opposite ends of the lower blade section IS in the same longitudinal plane therewith are extension sections it and IT. The extension section I6 permits the lower blade section to pass between the runner sections 2 and 3 so that material collected by the blade section l5 and said extension section l6 will be deposited in a Windrow at the side of the machine. It should, of course, be understood that the section I! may be made integral with the section l5, if desired. However, should it be desired to extend the section ll through the opposite side of the road shaper, it being assumed that said road shaper is provided with an open runner assembly on said opposite side, it will be possible to do so by properly shifting the blade and extension sections.

In order to provide added height for the straight edge assembly, I employ an extension blade which is indicated in general by the numeral IS. The extension blade I8 is formed with a relatively narrow portion i9 which extends throughout the central portion of the extension blade. At its opposite end portions the extension blade 18 is enlarged to define substantially triangular extensions 28 and 2|. The extensions 20 and 2| are identical in shape and are each provided with vertical edges 22 and inclined edges 23. The vertical edges 22 are disposed in vertical planes parallel with the vertical planes of the end edges of the extensions l6 and IT. The inclined edges 23 meet, at their corresponding lower ends, with the upper edge of the narrow portion IS. The extensions 20 and 2! are provided with lower edges which are in common with each other and with the narrow portion 19, which is to say, that the extension 20 is provided with a straight lower edge.

In use, the straight edge assembly forming the subject-matter of my invention may be installed on a road grader of the type illustrated in my patent, No. 2,090,117, by removing the rear blade entirely and replacing the right hand runner assembly by the open type runner assembly de-.

scribed in my pending application heretofore referred to.

sembly added as a unit. Should it not be desired to do so, the section I6 is added to the front 'blade already on the machine, which section will extend said front blade between the runner sections 2 and 3 of the open runner assembly. The extension blade is then added to the top of the front blade and the section l6. s

In operation, the straight edge assembly will permit the grader to grade berms perfectly level, depositing material at the edge of the pavement. It will also be possible to cut sod to uniform depth and deposit it evenly. In road maintenance, my improved straight edge assembly will assure perfectly controlled leveling of any type of road surface where material is to be drifted back and forth across the blades. It is also desired to point out that, in road construction, my improved straight. edge will be highlyeflicient. It will be particularly effective in leveling foundation material, in planing down a, high crown and widen,- ing a road, or in building up the crown. The device will also lend itself well for planing off ridges, filling ruts and hollows and in cleaning drainage slopes. In view of the fact that the blade is V readily adjustable to various heights, it may be If desired, the entire front blade may be removed and my improved straight edge as-.

adjusted so that it will not scrape a pavement but will ride evenly over a surface. For this reason, it is possible to move snow and slush of moderate depth accurately and quickly, and without any injury to pavements.

While it is not a part of my invention, it is desired to state that special brackets are employed on the chassis to carry a conventional straight edge or my improved straight edge assembly, depending upon which is not in use. Also, the machine will include a non-skid attachment which will "counteract side draft caused by the fact that but one blade is in action.

"""It is believed that further description of the "invention is unnecessary. .Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

extension section and having a relatively narrow portion and having enlarged end portions of triangular contour, said end portions having their free end edges extending upwardly throughout the height of the opening for preventing passage of material between said end portions and the connecting plates so that said material will be prevented from being deposited within the con fines of theroad shaper.

EDWARD C. GLEDHILL. 

